INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

RIGHTS (IPR)
A BULLETIN
FROM

TIFAC
VOL 5 NO. 10 OCTOBER, 1999

WTOs Third Ministerial

Conference
The third Ministerial Conference
of the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) will be held in Seattle,
Washington from 30 November 3 December 1999. The Ministerial
Conference is WTOs highest-level
decision making body. As
required by the Marrakesh
Agreement establishing the World
Trade Organisation, the Ministerial
is supposed to meet at least
once every two years. The
second Ministerial Conference
was held in Geneva in May
1998. United States Trade
Representative
Charlene
Barshefsky will chair the Seattle
meeting. He has described the
Seattle meet as the largest trade
event ever held in the United
States. The participants include
representatives from 134 Member
Countries, 34 Observer Nations
and various NGOs all over the
world. After the launch in
Seattle, the actual negotiations
and work programmes will take
place in Geneva, where WTO is
located. The Ministerial will
launch major new negotiations to
further liberalize international trade
and to review some current trade
rules. It will also set in motion a
work programme to look at other
important issues. The Seattle

Ministerial Conference will mark

the beginning of the negotiations,
just as the seven year Uruguay
Round was launched at a
Ministerial meeting in Punta del
Este in 1986 and the six year
Tokyo Round was launched in
Tokyo in 1973. Many countries
have suggested a dead line of
three years for these new talks.
The basic agenda of the
Ministerial enunciates negotiations
on the Agriculture and the Trade
in Services agreements as
reached in the Uruguay Round
and reviews of some of the key
provisions in other Uruguay Round
Agreements. Another challenge
that is being seen for the
conference is whether to include
in the negotiations, new issues
which cropped in the world
economy after the Uruguay
Round of negotiations. The new
issues include investment,
competition policy, transparency
in government procurement and
trade facilitation. Issues like ecommerce, Internet, genetically
modified organisms are also to
be debated. Another nab for
debate in this Ministerial is
whether Seattle should launch a
large and comprehensive round
offering trade-offs and benefits or
a
narrow
and
focussed
negotiation. Which approach will

involve less time and avoid a

seven-year marathon like the
Uruguay Round, shall be
debated. The conference also
aims at integrating the developing
countries into the trading system
by providing them access to the
decision-making process in the
WTO, access to policy advice,
access to capacity building and
access to global markets.
Developing countries have
identified a number of problems
relating to the implementation of
existing commitments, including
some of those in the Uruguay
Round agreements. The problems,
which are being raised, include
high levels of protection and
support
of
agriculture
in
industrialized countries; continued
high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff
escalation in the field of industrial
tariffs; and lack of meaningful
liberalization in textiles and
clothing. It is being strongly
argued that existing commitments
should be fully implemented
before starting negotiations on
new ones, and that the
implementation of existing
commitments should not be paid
for in negotiations. Substantive
problems like the tariff issues are
likely to be resolved only through
global negotiations and there is
in fact very strong support for
Contd on...2

Contd from...1
WTO's Third....
the proposal that negotiations on industrial tariffs
should accompany those on agriculture and
services.

Competition Policy

Norway, Japan, Korea, Kenya

on behalf of African Group,
Turkey

Fisheries & Forestry

Korea, Australia, Iceland, New

Zealand,
Norway,
Peru,
Philippines, USA, Iceland, Japan

The member countries have sent more than 150

proposals for discussion during the Ministerial.
These include tariffs, anti-dumping, subsidies,
safeguards, investment measures, trade facilitation,
electronic commerce, competition policy, fisheries,
transparency in government procurement, technical
assistance, capacity building and other development
issues, intellectual property protection. Many other
subjects in addition to agriculture and services are
likely to be taken up. There are proposals to
produce a special deal to help the least developed
countries (LDCs) gain easy access to richer
countries markets and to develop further work on
technical assistance to LDCs under an integrated
framework set up by the WTO and a number of
other organisations in 1997. Another agenda item
includes bringing of China, Russia and 29 other
candidates into the WTO family with a view to
making the global trading system truly global. Table
1 lists the proposals on different subject areas
sent by various member countries to the WTO.

Transparency In Govt
Procurement

European Communities, USA

Technical Assistance/
Capacity Building

Bangladesh, Lesotho, Nigeria,

Senegal, USA, Zambia, Kenya
on behalf of African Group,
Canada, Denmark, Netherlands,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
European Communities

TRIPS/IPR

Colombia, Venezuela, Hungary,

CEFTA Countries, Latvia,
Canada,
Turkey,
Japan,
European Communities, , Kenya
on behalf of African Group,
India

Agriculture

Cuba, Dominican Republic,

Egypt, El Salvador, Honduras,
Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
Australia,
New
Zealand,
Colombia, Romania, USA,
Czech,
Hungary,
Slovak
Republic,
European
Communities, Bulgaria, Latvia,
Slovenia, Japan

Biotechnology

Canada, USA

Genetically Modified
Organisms
Balance Of Payments

Japan

Technology Transfer

India

WTO & Transparency

Canada

Trade Related Investment

Measures (TRIMS)

Mexico, Colombia, Brazil

Differential & Most

Favourable Treatment

India, Indonesia, Malaysia,

Philippines, Thailand, Australia

Duty Free Access For

Least Developed Countries

European Communities

Non-Agricultural Market
Access

European Communities, USA

Safeguards

Colombia

Traditional Knowledge & IPR

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,

Nicaragua, Peru

Table 1
Areas Open for Discussions Proposals Received From
Electronic Commerce

Trade In Services

Implementation Issues from

the Uruguay Round

Cuba, Venezuela, Australia,

Canada,European Communities,
Japan, Singapore, Indonesia
Cuba,
Australia,
Brazil,
Colombia, USA, Singapore,
Turkey, Switzerland, Japan,
Argentina, Norway, European
Communities
Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Honduras, Egypt, El Salvador,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Uganda, Argentina, USA

Anti-Dumping

Chile, Guatemala, Colombia,

Brazil, India

Subsidies & Countervailing

Measures

Canada, Colombia, Brazil

Investment Measures

European
Communities,
Hongkong, China, Switzerland,
Korea, Japan

Trade Facilitation

European
Communities,
Switzerland, Korea, Japan,
USA

India

India has submitted many proposals to WTO for

consideration in this Conference; highlights of some
of these are given below.

Anti-Dumping Measures
The proposal states that anti-dumping measures
are virtually being used as weapons by certain
developed countries to deny access to the
products of developing countries. On the same
commodity anti-dumping action has been repeatedly
Contd on...3

Contd from...2
WTO's Third....
initiated by certain developed
countries. This has created
instability and unpredictability in
the market, which militates
against basic GATT principles. It
is vitally important to lay down
clear guidelines for making sure
that the provision in Article 15 of
GATT, 1999 is translated into
practice. (WTO Document : WT/GC/
W/108;13.11.98)

India along with some other

developing nations, namely Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Honduras,
Egypt, El Salvador, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka and Uganda, has proposed
the following with regard to antidumping:
1. In order to restrict the initiation
of back-to-back investigation, no
investigation shall be initiated
for a period of 365 days from
the date of finalization of a
previous investigation for the
same product resulting in nonimposition of duties.
2. The lesser duty rule shall be
mandatory while imposing an
anti-dumping duty against a
developing country Member by
any developed-country Member.
There shall be an undertaking
to this effect under Article 9.1.
3. Article 2.2 shall be clarified so
that where sales on the
domestic market do not permit
a proper comparison, the
margin
of
dumping
is
determined by comparison with
the export price to a third
country, and only where this
is not representative should the
export price be determined on
the basis of the constructed
value of cost of the product in
the country of origin.

TRIPS
Along with these countries
India has also flagged its concern
for the TRIPS related reforms and
has proposed the following
changes to be done in the
TRIPS Agreement:
1. In the light of provisions
contained in Article 23 and 24
of the TRIPS Agreement,
additional
protection
for
geographical indications shall
be extended for products other
than wines and spritis.
2. It is widely agreed that the
TRIPS
Agreement
is
incompatible
with
the
Convention on Bio-Diversity.
Pending
a
thorough
examination of this issue, a
clear understanding in the
interim
that
patents
inconsistent with Article 15 of
the CBD shall not be granted.
3. Article 64, paragraph 2 shall
be modified so as to make it
clear that subparagraph (b) and
(c) of Article XXIII of GATT
1994 shall not apply to the
TRIPS Agreement.
4. The provisions of Article 66.2
shall be made obligatory and
shall be subject to periodical
notification, in order to monitor
their effective implementation.
Guidelines on categories of
incentives shall also be
established. The application of
this Article shall be extended
to all developing countries.
5. The
period
given
for
implementation of the provisions
of Article 27.3(b) shall be five
years from the date the review
is completed.
6. The list of execptions to
patentability in Article 27.3(b)

shall include the list of

essential drugs of the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
(WTO Document:
354;11.10.99)

WT/GC/W/

Another concern for India is

the protection of indigenous
knowledge which risks being
used by patent holders in
developed countries without the
flow of benefits from patentees to
the original developers. (WTO
Document : WT/GC/W/114;18.11.98)

Technology Transfer
Indias proposal on transfer of
technology
has
suggested
establishing a Working Group to
identify the problems and
constraints faced by developing
countries in gaining access to
the latest technology available in
the developed countries, to look
at all the existing WTO
Agreements and suggest specific
measures. This proposal has
posed certain questions for which
answers have to be found :
Does the control, direction and
use of technology:
(a) promote innovation
sharing of knowledge;

and

(b) restore social balance or

concentrate power in the
hands of a few;
(c) favour profits or precaution;
(d) bring benefits for the many or
profits for the few;
(e) respect diverse systems of
property ownership;
(f) empower or
people; and

disempower

(g) make technology accessible

to those who need it in
developing countries. (WTO
Contd on...4

Contd from...3
WTO's Third....
Document:

WT/GC/W/

352;11.10.99)

Balance of Payments
The proposal states that the
Balance of Payments Committee
should be requested to examine
all the issues that arise from the
provisions of Article XVIII:B and
the 1994 BOP Understanding,
read along with Article XV of the
GATT, and should be mandated
to submit its report to the
General Council in a time-bound
manner. Its examination should
include: (I) the jurisdiction of the
Balance of Payments Committee
and the General Council; (ii) all
aspects relating to the criteria for
assessing the adequacy of
reserves and the justification for
import measures; and (iii) the
scope and applicability of the
proviso to Article XVIII:11 and
Note Ad Article XVIII:11. (WTO
Document:

WT/GC/W/364;12.10.99)

Besides these, India has also

raised issues relating to
Agriculture, Textiles, TRIMS,
Subsidies and Countervailing
Measures,
Sanitary
and
Phytosanitary Measures, Technical
Barriers to Trade, Services,
Special and Differential Treatment
and Dispute Settlement within
WTO countries.
Infact the Seattle Ministerial
shall be gearing the world for the
next millenium. In the words of
Mike Moore, Director General,
WTO,
The list of issues is already
longer than the Uruguay Round
agenda and many of the new
issues reach inside borders,

raising complex questions about

the way economies are organized
in an integrated world. The
number and diversity of interests
is also larger. No longer a cosy
club of industralized countries,
the WTO is a global system of
135 members with China, Russia
and 29 other economies queuing
to join. There may be 100,000
protestors outside the conference
centre but there are 1.5 billion
people wanting to join our
organization.
What is at stake in Seattle?
It goes beyond markets for our
exports. It is about delivering
better living standards for
everyone, better outcomes for the
environment, more resources for
health and education. It is about
building a stronger global
economy, reducing the risk of
future instability and crisis.
Perhaps above all it is about
advancing a new approach to
international cooperation based on
rules, not power rules to help
manage the powerful forces of
globalization for everyones benefit,
the weak as well as the strong.
Seattle is the priority, but the
Seattle Ministerial will only be
judged a success if there is a
balanced outcome. We need to
assist all member governments
to engage in the process. Thus
we need to increase the levels
and focus of technical assistance
from the WTO and other sources
to make this happen.

E-Commerce
Patents May Force
Reconsideration of
Strategies
It is reported that a recent
proposal by EU could make
computer software patentable in
Europe for the first time. This
would imply that businesses may
soon have to pay royalties on
such

commonly

commerce
compression,

used

techniques

eas

watermarking,

encryption and clearing house

technologies, creating significant
cost

consideration

for

e-

commerce strategies. Keeping in

view the imminent transformation
that the EU directive could bring
to the future of e-commerce in
Europe, a survey was undertaken
by Derwent (the famous database
company specialising in patent
information), to investigate the
attitude of British business to
potential changes in e-commerce
patent legislation. The survey
reveals

that

applications

many
related

patent
to

e-

commerce may raise some heat

and controversies. The basic
reason is that most of the
patents granted or in application
stage are very broad in nature.
This would suggest that almost
any company engaging in ecommerce may have to pay
royalties on the technologies

All the information in

employed. In addition it is felt

this article has been collated from

that the Internet is progressing

the WTO website : www.wto.org)

too fast for patent offices to fully

(Source :

appreciate the implications of

patents they grant.

Contd on...5
will be baught out and face

Contd from...4
E-Commerce Patent...
Sixty
companies

were

interviewed in retail, pharmaceutical and financial sectors to

aware of the effects of changing

book also deals with TRIPS,

patent legislation.

There is a

GATT, and Uruguay Round of

danger that companies will be

negotiations, which are to be

caught out and face unexpected

understood by all the practitioners

bills for royalty payments.

of patents for appreciating the

provide a snapshot of the current

status.

philosophy behind the patenting

35% of the companies

polled were aware of the planned

legislative changes due to e-

(Source : Derwent Information,

various sections of the Patent

Volume 8 No. 3)

Act has been dealt in a very

commerce and 80% of these

companies

hailed

from

system. The interpretation of

simple and lucid manner.

Book Review

the

financial sector. Approximately

The

self-assessment questions at end

Handbook of Indian Patent Law

of every chapter tend to clarify

87% of respondents in the

&

financial

Published by S. Viswanathan

the scientists.

Private Limited Rs. 750

of ones broad knowledge about

sector

had

an

e-

commerce strategy in place

compared

to

only

26%

of

respondents in the retail sector.

Overall 70% of those interviewed

Practices;

N.R.

Subbaram

The patent awareness in India

has been on the rise in the last

One can be sure

patents if these exercises are

completed successfully.

With the scientists

Since India joined the Patent

and technologists taking more

Cooperation Treaty and Paris

interest

technolegal

Convention on December 7, 1998,

subject, a need has been felt to

many procedural changes have

devise

can

taken place.

the

incorporated all the changes that

scientific community in this area.

have taken place with regards to

Shri Subbaram was responsible

the

for steering the patent movement

provides detailed information on

in

therefore

the Indian Patent Office; its

understands the need of the

working and the procedures being

researchers.

He has therefore

followed there. The significance of

competently included most of the

the book is that the author has

aspects about patenting required

taken care to provide information

to be understood by researchers,

about the other contemporary

policy makers etc, thus reducing

sources of patent information

the general gap in knowledge.

available in the country at that

For the beginners this book is of

point of time like the information

the Managing Director of Derwent,

immense help as it has covered

on Ekaswa-A and Ekaswa-B,

Mike Tansey, This research

the

CD-ROMs brought out by PFC

indicates

intellectual

said they had an e-commerce

strategy, although they admitted
that these were in their early
stages.

Only

14%

had

strategy in place for six months

and 30% for a year. The poll
also

indicated

that

the

e-

commerce programmes were

handled by IT Director (31%),
CEO (19%), Board Member
(13%), Marketing Director (6%)
and e-commerce manager (13%).
Further 65% of the total polled
were interested in learning more
about

e-commerce

patents,

especially about ownership of

these patents and their effect on
the business.

In the words of

that,

at

present,

4-5 years.

the doubts often confronted by

in

this

means

inculcate

CSIR

which

interests

and

basic

he

of

philosophy
property

of

rights,

PCT.

The book has

The

on Indian patents.

book

also

The book will

developing and implementing an

international character of the

be a good addition to libraries of

e-commerce strategy is the

patenting system, international

industries, R&D institutions and

responsibility of a diverse group

conventions and treaties, the

government departments.

of people within organisations,

Indian Patents Act and the

many of whom may not be

Patent Rules. A section of the

Case Law on Copyright

Infringement of Software
Microsoft Corporation Vs
Plato Technology Limited
The case presented here refers
to the copyright suit filed by the
software
giant
Microsoft
Corporation
against
Plato
Technology Limited for infringing
the Windows 95 software. The
defendant is a small company in
comparison with the plaintiff and
carried the business of supplying
computer hardware to computer
assemblers. It all started in
October 1997 when the defendant
supplied five copies of the
plaintiffs Windows 95 software.
These five copies obtained from
M/s Agency were found to be
counterfeit. The plaintiff, upon
disclosure of the fact that the
defendant had been selling
counterfeit software, initiated the
copyright infringement case
against the defendant in June
1998. Plato undertook not to deal
further in counterfeit software.
Following Platos attempt to
strike out action in December
1998, Microsoft sought summary
judgement. Platos undertakings
still stood and were not
challenged
by
Microsoft.
Therefore, the main question for
the court was to determine the
extent of the relief to be granted
to Microsoft for relatively minor
and unintentional infringement of
its rights. The plaintiff had
claimed that, in spite of the
minor nature of the infringement,
they were entitled to: 1)
a wide-ranging injunction
against the defendant which shall
restrain further infringement in
any of its software products;

2)
delivery of all copies of
the Microsoft software in
possession of the defendant;
which it knows to be counterfeit.
3)
damages or an account
of profits in respect of all
counterfeit Microsoft software
products Plato has ever dealt in;
and
4)
extensive discovery of all
dealings e.g. goods obtained and
related documentation, in all
Microsoft products from the
defendant.
The defendant put forward the
following arguments:1.
As
there
was
no
evidence that they intended to
continue infringing, any injunctive
relief ought to be narrow and
restricted to what the defendant
had already offered in their
undertaking. (The undertaking was
that they would no longer deal in
software known to be counterfeit).
2.
Microsoft was entitled to
damages in respect of 45 copies
of Windows 95, which the
defendant had obtained from that
agency.
3.
Any order for discovery
should be restricted to those 45
copies.
The court looked into all the
aspects and gave its judgement
on each of the points raised by
Microsoft.
(a) The
main
principle
adopted by the court was derived
from the judgement in Coflexip
SA vs Stolt Comex Seaway
MS Ltd. in which it was clarified
that the court must tailor the
injunction to match the wrong,
that the injunction must protect
the plaintiff but be fair to the
defendant as well. In the present

case the only threat was that

Plato might occasionally buy
software purporting to be genuine
Microsoft
product.
Since
restricting any trader to buy from
non-authorised distributors would
be an unreasonable restraint of
trade for a trader, the court held
that it should be incumbent on
the honest trader to check that
the products he buys are
genuine. Any injunction or
undertaking should nevertheless
extend to all Microsoft software
products.
(b) Plato should deliver all
copies of Microsoft software in
its possession, which it knows to
be counterfeit. There was no
evidence or inference that Plato
had obtained any counterfeit
Microsoft software otherwise than
from Agency. Consequently, any
relief had to be limited to those
goods conceded by Plato.
(c) The discovery at Platos
place should be restricted to
documentation dealing with the
goods obtained from Agency
only, since Plato was an honest
trader unaware of the counterfeit
nature of goods and not
recklessly indifferent.
The court ultimately held that
a narrow relief would be more
appropriate to the present
circumstances where Plato was
an honest trader unaware of the
counterfeit nature of goods and
not recklessly indifferent.
(Source: Intellectual Property
Decisions, Published by Monitor
Press Ltd, Suffolk House, Church
field Road Sudbury, Suffolk
6YA, May 1999)

CO 10

Case Study
Method and apparatus for
bioremediation
of
mixed
hazardous wastes
The present invention provides
a method and apparatus for
treatment (bioremediation) of
mixed hazardous wastes. The
same can be used for treatment
of a liquid or slurry hazardous
waste stream like industrial
wastewater or sludge or for
treatment of contaminated
groundwater. The invention was
granted a patent in US July this
year (Patent No. US 5922204) to
two
individuals.
The
US
Government has certain rights in
the invention, as it emanated
from a project supported by the
Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, a component of
the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Background
The
activities
of
U.S.
Department of Defense and its
contractors
result
in
the
generation of large amounts of
hazardous wastes. Many of the
constituents of concern are
waterborne or have become
waterborne as a result of leaks
or spills. Among the most
troublesome of these wastes are
organic solvents, heavy metals,
acids and salts. Even at low
concentrations, these constituents
are often toxic, tend to be
resistant to conventional treatment
methods and are persistent in
the environment. The patent is an
offshoot of the attempts made to
handle such hazardous wastes.
Common waste constituents are
aromatic hydrocarbons, such as

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,

xylenes, phenols and cresols,
halogenated (e.g. chlorinated)
hydrocarbons,
such
as
tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and
similar xenobiotics, heavy metals
such as copper, lead, zinc, lead,
mercury,
cadmium,
and
chromium,
acids such as
sulfuric acid and nitric acid, and
salts, such as sulfates and
nitrates. Benzene, xylene etc
are components of fuels and
often the focus of groundwater
clean up efforts. Phenols and
cresols are used in paint
stripping and carbon (smut)
removal operations. Halogenated
hydrocarbons are used as
solvents and vapour degreasing
operations. Heavy metals, acids
and inorganic salts are present in
metal stripping and electroplating
effluents.

The Prior-Art
The US Patent No 5, 076,
927 had described the concept
of
kinetic
control
for
bioremediation
of
mixed
hazardous wastes. The kinetic
control method is applied to
enrich the particular microorganism or consortia that is
capable of accomplishing the
hazardous waste transformations.
The enrichment is achieved
through a series of reactors.
Growth rate (dilution rate or
mean cell residence time
(MCRT)) is used to favour
particular microorganisms and
disfavour others. In general
downstream reactors are operated
at greater MCRT than upstream
reactors. There is a practical

limitation on the use of kinetic

control for enrichment purposes.
A good engineering design calls
for a safety factor to be applied
to the minimum mean cell
residence time (MCRT). It is
recommended that a design
MCRT should be 2 to 10 times
the minimum MCRT that causes
washout
of
the
desired
microorganisms. Thus from a
practical perspective, use of
kinetic control is feasible only in
those cases wherein the,
maximum specific growth rates of
organisms to be separated differ
by a factor of 2 to 10.
Methods
for
culturing
microorganisms, and, specifically,
for culturing sulfate-reducing
bacteria and methane-producing
bacteria in at least two reactors
in series, are known. The
invention provides a method for
neutralizing and removing metals
and sulfate from acid mine
drainage and other acidic metal
sulfate solutions. Sulfate is used
as the sole electron acceptor in
the biological reduction process.
The electron donors are volatile
acids or their disassociation
products, such as propionic acid,
propionate ion, butyric acid,
butyrate ion, lactic acid and
lactate ion.

The Present Invention

Applicants have discovered that
the methods in the referenced
patent can be used to biologically
oxidize aromatic hydrocarbons as
electron
donors
and
to
biologically reduce halogenated
hydrocarbons
as
electron
acceptors. This is achieved by

Contd on...8

Contd from... 7
Case Study
replacing electron, such as propionic acid,
propionate ion, butyric acid, butyrate ion, lactic
acid and lactate ion with aromatic hydroarbons
such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes,
phenol and cresols.
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating
a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the
dashed lines representing possible variations in the
process. Mixed hazardous waste 50 is input to the
process by pump 62. The process involves an
initial sulfate-reduction step and a subsequent
methanogenic step. A third, aerobic processing
step may also be included.
The initial sulfate-reduction step is accomplished
in the first reactor 52. Conditions for biological
sulfate reduction are created whereby sulfate serves
as the primary terminal electron acceptor. If the
waste stream does not contain sulfate, addition of
sodium sulfate 51 (or sulfuric acid) is necessary.
An anaerobic environment is maintained
automatically by the cultures production of
hydrogen sulfide. Reductive dechlorination produces
ethylene (63) and other breakdown products.
From the reaction stoichiometries, the following
sulfate 51 requirements are predicted if addition of
an electron acceptor is necessary:
Electron donor

Sulfate requirement
Moles of SO4++
required per mole
of electron donor

Grams of SO4++
required per gram
of electron donor

Benzene

3.75

4.61

Toluene

4.50

4.69

Ethylbenzene

5.25

4.75

Xylenes

5.25

4.75

Phenol

3.50

3.57

Cresols

4.25

3.78

The above information on sulfate requirements

can be used to determine an appropriate amount of
sulfate ion to be added to the second reactor 52

Fig. 1
to enrich sulfate-reducing bacteria therein without
enriching sulfate-reducing bacteria in downstream
reactors. Degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons such
as p-cresol occurs under sulfate-reducing conditions.
Free energy considerations indicate that degradation
of other such compounds, such as toluene and
phenol, is favorable thermodynamically.
If the excess hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) produced
during sulfate reduction is removed from the reactor
(by purging with nitrogen or otherwise), the pH of
the solution is increased. Any conventional method
is used to recover sulfur from the stream.
Sulfate 51 may be added or it may be present
in mixed hazardous waste 50. Hydrogen sulfide
gas (e.g., sulfides 61) may be removed from first
liquid effluent 53 using one of the methods
described above. In one embodiment, first reactor
52 includes headspace 64 from which hydrogen
sulfide gas 61 is removed by vacuum pump 65.
Waste hydrogen sulfide gas 61 may be scrubbed
to remove volatile hydrocarbons contained in it by
contacting it with an aqueous waste stream, such
as a portion of third liquid effluent 58, which
portion is returned to first or second reactor 52 or
54 for further treatment. Biological dechlorination of
Contd on...16

Patents for Opposition

The following patent applications have been accepted by the
Patent Office and published in the Gazette of India. These can now
be opposed by filing opposition applications within a period of four
months from the dates given. Six digit numbers allotted after
acceptance by the Patent Office are given before the applicant
names and patent application numbers given in brackets. Names of
the branches of the Patent Office are denoted in the application
number, e.g. Bom for Bombay branch. An opposition application
should be submitted at the appropriate office where the concerned
application was originally filed.
PATENT APPLICANTS

INVENTION

C. 14 August, 1999
182931. Daewoo Electronics Co
Ltd, Korea (247/Cal/95)

Thin film actuated mirror array for use

in an optical projection system &
method for the manufacture thereof.

182932. Foster Wheeler Energy

Corp, USA (548/Cal/95)

An apparatus & method of producing

flue gases with reduced NO level.

182933. Tyco Flow Control Inc, USA

(622/Cal/95)

A valve assembly having improved

valve seat.

182934. Daewoo Electronics Co

Ltd, Korea (874/Cal/95)

An apparatus for processing a still

screen in a digital video reproducing
system.

182935. Indian Association for the

Cultivation of Science, Calcutta
(924/Cal/94)

A continuous growth process for the

preparation
of
hydrogenated
amorphous silicon.

182936. Technological Resouces

Pty Ltd, Australia (979/Cal/94)

Improved process for the production of

iron from ferrous raw materials.

182937. Indian Jute Industries

Research Association, India
(989/Cal/94)

Electronic oil content meter.

182938. E I Du Pont De Nemours &

Co, USA (567/Cal/97)

A process for
metal aryloxide.

182939. Jatinder Kumar Aray, & E P

Industrial & Agro Chemicals Pvt Ltd,
India (1452/Cal/97)

An improved process for producing

carboxy methyl cellulose continuously.

182940. Eli Lilly & Co, USA

Cal/97)

(1549/

A
process
for
preparing
an
amorphous form of benzothiophenes.

182941. Hindustan Lever Ltd, India

(532/Bom/94)

Process for the production of a high

bulk density detergent composition.

182942.Prestige Hm-Polycontainers
Ltd India (569/Bom/94)

A pilfer proof container.

182943. Prabha Engineering

Private Ltd, India (190/Bom/95)

A motorised jack device.

182944. Searle (India) Ltd, India

(564/Bom/97)

A process for the preparation of the

antipsychotic agent 3-[2-[4-(6-fluro-1 2benzisoxazol-3-yl) -1- piperidinyl] ethyl]-6
7 8 9-tetrahydro-2-methyl 4h pyrido [1
2a] pyrimidin-4-one (risperidone).

producing dry alkali

International News
In a deal to settle patent
litigation, Storage Technology (or
commonly known as Storage
Tek), high-volume data storage
equipment maker has agreed to
pay
$100
million
to
communication equipment maker
Odetics Inc. $ 80 million has
been paid at the time of
settlement and the remainder
would be paid in equal
instalments of $ 10 million each
in the next two years.
(Business Line, 12 Oct 99)
As on July 15, 1999 54
countries are members to Madrid
Agreement, namely Albania,
Algeria,
Armenia,
Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea, Egypt, France,
Germany,
Hungary,
Italy,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia,
Lesotho,
Liberia,
Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Republic of Moldova,
Romania, Russian Federation,
San Marino, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan,
Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan,
the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Georgia,
Turkey and Turkmenistan.
(www.wipo.org)
A 1996 Update Report on US
Patenting by Women released by
United States Patent and Trade
Mark Office (USPTO) presents a
brief history of women inventors
in United States and examines

Contd on...10

182945. Ganesh Benzoplast Ltd,

India (662/Bom/97)

A process for preservation of

perishable foods typically seafoods.

182946. Dr Bakulesh Mafatlal

Khamar, India (699/Bom/99)

The process for manufacturing

formulation of topical beta blockers
with improved efficacy.

182947. Department of Atomic

Energy Government of India,
Anushakti Bhavan, Chatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Mumbai
(236/Bom/98)

A process for the preparation of the

anticancer drug n[4- {[2 4-diamino-6pteridinyl)
methyl]
methylamino}
benzoyl]-l-glutamic acid company
known
as
methotrexate
&
pharmaceutically acceptable salts
thereof.

182948. Sellers Edward M, Canada

(466/Bom/98)

A process of preparing a synergestic

pharmaceutical
composition
for
prohylaxis or treatment of cancer.

182949. M/S Kumkum Food

Products Ltd, India (492/Bom/98)

Process & device for instant

sterilization of food cereals pulses &
the like.

182950. Sonic Biochem Extractions

Pvt Ltd, India (614/Bom/95)

A process of developing dietary fibre

from soya hull.

182951. Discovery Communications Inc, USA (1010/Cal/94)

An operation centre for a video-audio

program delivery systems.

182952. Fiberweb North America

Inc, USA (1013/Cal/94)

A gamma radiation sterilizable

composite non-woven fabric.

182953. Bernd Hansen, Germany

(87/Cal/95)

An infusion
connections.

182954. Auto Electronics Corp,

Korea 333/Cal/95)

Sensor
system
for
controlling
ventilation systems in vehicles.

182955.Mitsubishi Cable Industries

Ltd, Japan Missing In The F

An apparatus for electrically testing a

multicore cable.

182956. Philips Electronics N V,

The Netherlands (368/Cal/95)

An optical switch for a multiplex

transmitting & receiving system.

182957. Connector Systems

Technology N V, The Netherlands
(464/Cal/98)

Installation fixture for right angle

electrical connector assembly.

182958. ABB Patent

Germany (662/Cal/95)

A brake device for rail vehicle.

Gmbh,

container

with

two

182959. Krone Aktiengesellschaft,

Germany (724/Cal/95)

Terminal element.

182960.Sterner Mark Henry & Zane

Ronald Sui,USA (1921/Cal/97)

A process for producing reconstitutable

dehydrated whole lentils.

182961. Rashtriya Chemicals &

Fertilizers Ltd, India (192/Bom/95)

A process for manufacturing a slow

release urea fertilizer by nitrification
inhibition.

182962. Bhabha Atomic Research

Centre India (209/Bom/95)

A process for the enzymatic

liquefaction of unconventional fruits.

182963. Filterwerk Mann + Hummel

Gmbh, Germany (235/Bom/95)

Method of producing a hollow body

with an internal supporting frame & a
hollow body produced thereby.

182964. Philips India Ltd, India

(242/Bom/85)

A variable resistor & a method of

making the same.

10

Contd from... 9
International News
trends in US patenting by
women in the 1977 to 1996
period. It focuses exclusively on
patents of US origin (i.e. patents
for which the first named
inventors resided in the United
States at the time of grant) and
attempts to identify which of
those US origin patents include a
woman inventor. Some of the
highlights of the Report follow as
under:
1. The woman-inventor patent
share of annually granted US
origin patents rose from 2.6
percent in 1977 to 9.2 percent
in 1996.
2. Of the 985,319 US origin
patents granted during the 1977
to 1996 period, 5.7 percent
included a woman inventor, i.e.
were woman inventor patents.
3. During the 1977 to 1996
period, most of the U.S. origin
patent grants to women (82.6
percent) were for utility patents
i.e. inventions, as compared to
16.4 percent which were for
aesthetic design patents and 0.5
percent which were for plant
patents.
4. For the 1977 to 1996
period, the largest share of the
U.S origin woman-inventor utility
patent grants, 49.5 percent,
pertained
to
chemical
technologies, while 36.2 percent
pertained
to
mechanical
technologies and only 14.3
percent pertained to electrical
technologies.
5. About 35 percent of the
US origin woman-inventor patents
granted during the 1977 to 1996

Contd on...11

182965. Filterwerk Mann +Hummel

Gmbh, Germany (372/Bom/95)

Fluid filter.

182966. Normstahl Werk Doring

Ag, Switzerland (380/Bom/95)

Finger protection means for a

sectional door.

182967. Searle (India) Ltd, India

(449/Bom/96)

A process for the preparation of

novel pestitcidal composition.

182968. Lupin Laboratories Ltd,

India (482/Bom/96)

A process for the manufacture of 2[

(2-pyridyl)
methylthio]
benzimidazone derivatives.

182969. Lupin Laboratories Ltd,

India (30/Bom/97)

A method for manufacture of

cephalosporin antibiotics such as
cefazolin.

182970. Shyam Khanna, Mumbai,

India (109/Bom/97)

A process for preparing anti-wrinkle

&
muscle
tonning
herbal
synergestic composition.

182971. Maschinenfabrik Rieter Ag,

Switzerland (469/Mas/93)

Top comb unit for a combing

machine.

182972. Ciba Speciality Chemicals

Holding Inc,
Switzerland
(604/Mas/93)

Process for the preparation of aryl

substituted propionic acid esters.

182973. Caterpillar Inc, USA

(635/Mas/93)

A control system for automatically

regulating the speed of an engine.

182974. Anthony Errol Harris & Dan

Hung,
British
Nationals
(710/Mas/93)

Ground environment mats for vestal

aircraft operations.

182975. Zanussi Electrodomestici

S P A, Italy (732/Mas/93)

Process for fabricating a perforated

drum for clothes washing machine
& drum obtained thereby.

182976. AT & T Corp,

(747/Mas/93)

A wireless switching system.

USA

182977.
Thavitupayalam
Venkatraman Jagadessan, India
(758/Mas/93)

LPG cooking gas cylinder gauge.

182978. Kudakkachira Thomas,

India (774/Mas/93)

Electro magnetic tuning alternating

system for carburettors.

182979. Zanussi Eletirodomestici

S P A, Italy (840/Mas/93)

A plastic tub for washing machines.

182980. Dr Kota Harinarayana &

others, India (857/Mas/93)

Interactive triple display training

simulator.

182981. Darmag Ag, Germany

(859/Mas/93)

Yarn traversing apparatus.

182982. Wes Technology Inc, USA

(923/Mas/93)

Isolators.

182983.
Sedepro,
(927/Mas/93)

France

A pump for viscous material.

182984.
Sedepro,
(928/Mas/93)

France

Dosaging device.

182985. Dana
(933/Mas/93)

Corp,

USA

182986. Norton Chemical Process

Procducts Corp, USA (936/Mas/93)

A multiple sealing system for a

cylinder head gasket.
Packing element.

Contd from... 10
International News
period originated from California,
New York, or New Jersey.
(www.uspto.gov)
An increase of 10 percent in
the number of patent applications
filed in New Zealand during 199899 as compared to 1997-98 has
been reported. This increase in
the number of patent applications
is being attributed to the release
of the New Zealand Inland
Revenue Departments (IRD) draft
interpretation statement covering
income tax issues as they relate
to patents. According to this
draft the costs of prosecuting or
defending a patent infringement
action, or in prosecuting a patent
revocation or opposition action,
would generally be dedutible.
The defence of a patent
revocation or opposition would
need to be capitalised and
depreciated. Similarly the draft
has put the patent renewal fees
in the deductible category and
has again suggested capitalizing
the costs incurred on grant of a
patent.
(Patent World, Issue 115, Sept 99)

Under the USPTOs Electronic

Filing System (EFS), the PTO
has recently launched a new
service called EFS BIO for filing
of certain biotechnology patents
on the Internet. The USPTO
has successfully done the
Internet filing of a gene sequence
listing for a pending biotechnology
application on September 29,
1999. EFS BIO eliminates the
cost and delay of physically
handling,
processing
and
delivering gene sequence listings
and also provides real time

Contd on...12

11

182987.
Rieter Ingolstadt
Spinnereimas Chinenbau Ag,
Germany (005/Mas/94)

Device for detecting breakage in

textile slivers upstream of a draw
frame.

182988.
Rieter
Ingolstadt
Spinnereimas Chinenbau Ag,
Germany (006/Mas/94)

A pressure bar for location in the

main drafting zone of a textile
drafting device.

182989. Barmag Ag, Germany

(96/Mas/94)

A
spinning
machine
thermoplastic yarns.

182990. Palitexproject Co Gmbh,

Germany (101/Mas/94)

Spindle for producing a yarn or

twist.

for

B. 21 August, 1999
182990. Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Germany (997/Cal/94)

Disconnecting contact block with

bridgelike contact pieces which are
arranged such that they can move
with respect to each other.

182991. Hitachi
(144/Cal/94)

Process adaptive control system.

Ltd,

Japan

182992. Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Germany (909/Cal/94)

Gas valve for a combination

comprising a gas turbine a
compressor for combustion air and
a combustion chamber having a
compressor outlet and a turbine
inlet.

182994.
Novoflex
Cable
Industries, India (21/Cal/95)

A bush to relieve strain to a power

cable or to a cord.

182995. Custom Packaging

Systems Inc, USA (53/Cal/95)

A bulk bag with sidewall restrainer

and a method for making the bag.

182996. Goldstar Co Ltd, Korea

(181/Cal/95)

Apparatus for controlling kimchi

storage temperature in refrigerator.

182997. Saint-Gobain Vitrage,

France (102/Cal/95)

A contact tempering device.

182998. Critikon
(275/Cal/95)

A catheter device.

Inc,

USA

182999. Emitec Gesellschaft Fur

Emissions Technologie Mbh,
Germany (479/Cal/95)

A method for producing soldered

metal structure.

183000. Midrex International B V,

Switzerland (512/Cal/95)

Method for direct reduction of iron

oxide fines into metallized iron
fines.

183001. Maschinenfabrik Rieter

Ag, Switzerland (423/Mas/92)

Full bobbin and tube transport in

spinning machines.

183002. Scheron SA, Switzerland

(523/Mas/92)

Pressure medium drive for closing

and opening the contacts of a
circuit-breaker.

183003. Akzo N V, Netherlands

(613/Mas/92)

Suspension and agglomeration of

amidoperoxyacids.

183004. Courtaulds Coatings

(Holding) Ltd, UK (788/Mas/93)

Powder coating compositions.

183005. China Petro-Chemical

Corp & Jingling Petrochemical
Co, China (818/Mas/93)

A process for preparing long life

supported
catalyst
for
dehydrogenation
of
saturated
hydrocarbons.

12

Contd from... 11
International News
acknowledgement of submission.
Care has been taken to maintain
the confidentiality of the
applications
filed.
Further
information on EFS BIO can be
accessed
from
http://ptoebc.uspto.gov
(www.uspto.gov)
A new patent law has been
passed
by
the
Croatian
Parliament. It came into force on
July 31, 1999. The new law
harmonises Croatian patent law
with latest European trends and
brings it in line with GATT
standards. The highlights of the
law are as below:a) Excluded from patent
protection are (1) plant or animal
species or essentially biological
processes for the production of
plants or animals, except for
microbiological processes or
products thereof, and (2)
inventions whose publication or
exploitation would be contrary to
public order or morals. Diagnostic
and surgical methods or
treatment methods applied directly
on a human or animal body,
except for products, especially
substances and compositions for
use in any of these products,
are considered as not being
appropriate
for
industrial
application and therefore not
patentable.
b) Registration of a short-term
(10 years term) patent which is
not examined.
c) The new patent law will
apply to all registered patents
and pending patent applications.
Infringement actions that are still
pending on January 1, 2000 will
be subject to the old law.
Contd on...13

183006. Elf Atochem S A, France

(904/Mas/93)

A process for the manufacture of a

polymer composition.

183007. Mobil Oil Corp,

(332/Mas/94)

USA

A process for producing a synthetic

layered material.

183008. The South India Textile

Research Association, India
(520/Mas/94)

An improved spindle and sleeve

assembly for spinning yarn.

183009. Vittal Mallya Scientific

Research Foundation, India
(1411/Mas/95)

A process of preparing human

insulin.

183010. Chemferm, Netherlands

(483/Mas/96)

A process for the recovery of

ampicillin from a mixture containing
ampicillin and 6-aminopenicillanic
acid.

183011. Mr Stephen V Allison,

Canada (115/Mas/94)

A self cleaning filter device for solar

powered drip irrigation systems.

183012. Nuova Roj Electroex S R

L, Italy (117/Mas/94)

Yarn feeding device.

183013. Zellweger Uster Ag,

Switzerland (144/Mas/94)

Apparatus for determining the

structure of yarns in the region of
their surface.

183014. Foseco International Ltd,

UK (177/Mas/94)

A bonded refractory heat-insulating

composition.

183015. UHDE Gmbh, Germany

(181/Mas/94)

Process and apparatus for the

production of granulated ammonium
nitrate of a predetermined grain
size.

183016. Eniricerche SPA , Italy

(189/Mas/94)

Process for preparing water soluble

sulfonated dispersants.

183017. Maschinenfabrik Rieter

Ag, Switzerland (182/Mas/94)

An apparatus for attaching working

elements.

183018.
France

Acetiques,

Process for the preparation of

carboxylic
acids
or
the
corresponding esters in the
presence of a catalyst based on
iridium.

Acetiques,

Process for the preparation of

carboxylic
acids
or
the
corresponding esters in the
presence of a catalyst based on
rhodium and iridium.

Pardies

(246/Mas/94)

183019. Pardies
France (257/Mas/94)

183020. John O Butler Co, USA

(278/Mas/94)

An interdental toothbrush.

183021. University of Essex, UK

(114/Mas/92)

A method of manufacturing
protected substrate.

183022. Urea Casale

Switzerland (115/Mas/92)

A method of producing urea.

A,

183023. Puthparampil Varughese

Devasia, India (140/Mas/92)

A device for supporting a latex

collection receptacle on a latex
yielding tree.

183024. Foseco International Ltd,

A filter for filtration of molten light

Contd from... 12
International News
(Patent World, Issue 116, Oct 99)

Protein Design Labs Inc (PDL)

has been granted a second
patent by European Patent Office
on methods for choosing human
frameworks and producing
humanised antibodies from them.
The first patent awarded to PDL
on humanized antibodies in 1996
is being opposed.
(Genetic Technology News,
Vol 19, No 36, Sept 8, 1999)
Los
Alamos
National
Laboratory (LANL) has obtained a
US patent (Pat No 5,944,329) for
a new mounting technology which
shall enable machining with much
greater accuracy.
LANL
researchers have developed a
kinematic magnetic mount on a
tooling machine, such as a lathe,
polisher or jig bore, which has
a positioning error of less than
0.25 mm and can hold
millimeter-sized geometrically
shaped parts. This technology is
not just limited to MEMS (microelectromechanical systems), it
can also be used to machine
large parts.
(High-Tech Materials Alert,
Vol 16 No10, Oct 99)

Domestic News
Wockhardt Ltd has filed four
US patent applications for novel
drug delivery systems (NDDS).
Three of these are cardiovascular
products and one is an
antiulcerant. The company is also
planning to file abbreviated new
drug applications (ANDAS) for

Contd on...14

13

UK (149/Mas/92)

metals.

183025. Societe Des Produits

Nestle
S A, Switzerland
(176/Mas/92)

A process for producing a soluble

coffee powder with enhanced coffee
flavour.

183026. Institute Francais Du

Petrole, France (205/Mas/92)

A method of preparing microporous

crystallized gallium phosphate and
its substituted derivatives.

183027. Institute Francais Du

Petrole, France (221/Mas/92)

A process of preparing esters of

carboxylic acid.

183028.
Sajja
Perumal
Subramanian, India (309/Mas/92)

A jacquard card.

183029. Kemira
(396/Mas/92)

A fertilizer composition.

Oy,

Finland

183030.
Hoechst
Aktiengesellschaft, Germany (407/Mas/92)

A process for the preparation of an

ethylene polymer having a uniform
course particle shape and high bulk
density.

C. 28 August, 1999
183031. Hindustan Lever Ltd,
India (353/Bom/94)

A process for the preparation of

cosmetic composition effective
against pimples and redness.

183032. Kurkute Brothers Private

Ltd, India (470/Bom/94)

A diaphragm type compressor.

183033. Ashok
(158/Bom/97)

Patil,

India

A process of preparing reuterin

antibiotic.

183034. Ashok Patil, India

Bom/97)

(159/

A process of preparing the

therapeutic
preparations
for
reduction of acute diarrhoea
symptoms
or
for
stopping
dehydration of mammals and in
particular young patients.

183035. Ashok
(211/Bom/97)

Patil,

India

A process of manufacturing
cryptosporidium infection reducing
therapeutic concentration.

183036. Cheil Jedang

Korea (281/Bom/97)

Corp,

A process of highly pure crystalline

form of cefuroxime axetil.

183037. Dr Joshi Yeshwant

Kashinath, India (441/Bom/97)

A process for making synergistic

composition for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis.

183038. Hindustan Lever Ltd,

India (485/Bom/97)

A process for producing a shaped

wafer.

183039. Biorex Kutato Es Fejlesto

Rt Vespremszabadsaguprszta,
Hungary (200/Bom/98)

Process for preparing o-(3-amino2hydroxypropyl) hydroxymic acid

halides.

183040.
Sonic
Biochem
Extractions Pvt Ltd, India
(533/Bom/98)

The process of extraction soy

protein concentrate from defatted
soybean flakes.

183041. Hindustan Lever Ltd,

India (489/Bom/94)

A package comprising a chamber

adapted to contain a flowable or
fusible material.

183042. Madhav Narhar Damle,

India (509/Bom/94)

High resolution remotely resettable

time clock.

Contd from... 13
Domestic News
their products with the US drug
authorities.
(Economic Times, 18 Oct, 99)
A US patent has been
granted to Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR) for
a new hybrid variety of mint or
mentha arvensis called Himalaya.
It has been developed by the
scientists at the Central Institute
of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
(CIMAP), Lucknow. The new plant
variety gives higher yield of the
oil rich in menthol and
is
resistant to common diseases.
(Business Line, 1 Oct 99)
Patent infringement suits
against Hyderabad based Dr.
Reddys Research Laboratories
have been filed separately by
Glaxo Wellcome Plc and Pfizer
for two products ondansetron and
amlodipine respectively in the
Russian market. Probably the
initial court rulings have gone
against DRL. But DRL is
planning to appeal against the
verdict.
(Financial Express, 23 Oct 99)
The Geohess UK Ltd has
received a European patent (Pat
No 728048) for the use of
hessian cloth on landfill sites to
cover rubbish. It is now claiming
that anyone covering rubbish with
hessian cloth would have to pay
it a royalty of 65 per cent of
the cost of the hessian in the
UK. One UK based company
which was billed by Geohess
has questioned the validity of the
patent in the UK court. The
companys attorney has also
contacted Indian company

Contd on...15

14

183043. Hindustan Lever Ltd,

India (511/Bom/94)

A method of preparing a dentifrice.

183044. Shantanu Anil Netke &

Vishwas Govind Panngarkar, India
(571/Bom/94)

A liquid -liquid extraction of a

solute from the solution.

183045. Hindustan Lever Ltd,

India (652/Bom/94)

A detergent composition.

183046. Consafe Science (India)

Pvt Ltd, India (47/Bom/95)

A process for treatment of spent

wash in distilleries or the like to
accomplish zero effluent discharge
resulting in a combustible product
to be used as a fuel and a plant
therefor.

183047. Bhavnagar University,

India (65/Bom/95)

Non-contact type centrifugal switch

using magnetic fluid.

183048. Prakash Krishna, India

(75/Bom/95)

A plastic
machine.

183049. Herdillia Chemicals Ltd,

India (237/Bom/95)

An improved process for the

preparation of dimethyl benzyl
carbinol i e 2-methyl-1-phenyl-2propanol from isobutyl benzene.

183050. Dr M S Sagare Principal

Bharti Vidyapeeths Arts Science
& Commerce College Sangli,
Maharashtra (256/Bom/95)

Process of preparation a new Li-Cd

ferrite composition which exhibits
electrical switching at room
temperature.

183051. The Procter & Gamble

Co, USA (926/Del/91)

An
improved
process
for
manufacturing a linear glucamide
surfactant.

183052. Camas International Inc,

USA (984/Del/91)

An apparatus for providing a

fluidizied bed of uniform density
medium.

183053. CSIR, India (265/Del/92)

An improved process for the

production of thin semiconductor
devices.

injection

moulding

183054. CSIR, India (1090/Del/92)

A process for the preparation of

novel 1 4-dihydro-4 (substituted
aryl) 3 5-di-n alkyl/dialkyl carbamoyl
pyridines.

183055. Dexter Chemicals (I) Pvt

Ltd, India (220/Del/93)

A method for the preparation of

ethereally
substituted
monosaccharides.

183056. Rohm & Haas Co, USA

(758/Del/93)

A process for the preparation of

storage stable neem seed extract.

183057. CSIR, India (1239/Del/93)

An improved process for the

preparation of adipic acid by the
oxidation of cyclohixane using a
cobalt catalyst with simultaneous
recovery of the catalyst.

183058. Rohm & Haas Co, USA

(22/Del/95)

Preparation of crosslinked anion

exchange particles.

183059. Sbl Ltd, India (60/Del/95)

A process for preparing a

synergistic
homeopathic
composition for the treatment of
trauma.

183060.
Sbl
(608/Del/95)

A process for preparing a

synergistic homepathic composition
for the treatment of jaundice fatigue
tiredness malaise an
orexia
nausea.

Ltd,

India

Contd from... 14
Domestic News
Hastings Jute Mill who have
further brought this matter to the
notice of Indian Jute Mills
Association (IJMA), Jute and
Mineral development Corporation
(JMDC) and Indian Jute Mill
Research association (IJRA) as
this patent can have negative
impact on Indian jute exporters.
If some strong action is not
taken at this point of time
tomorrow one can patent the use
of potato sacking bags, wheat
bags and any other thing where
jute is being used.
Jute
industry being 100 years old in
India and the low cost of the
jute fibres have led to a wide
use of this fibre over the period
of time. If one has to pay 10
to 15 per cent extra for the
same thing as royalty, the
consumers may not pay that
high price and this may lead to
declime in the use of jute.
(Financial Express, 13 Oct 99)
Cadila Pharma Ltd (CPL) has
won the copyright infringement
suit against Cadila Healthcare Ltd
(CHL) over CPLs cardiovascular
drug Envas. CPL alleged that
CHL was using the identical
design in the strip and box for
its drug to encash on the
popularity of Envas. The court
has now directed CHL to
withdraw its product from the
market, give an account of
production and selling of the
product and to bear the costs
incurred by CPL in fighting the
case.
(Financial Express, 8 Oct 99)

15

Contd from... 8
Case Study
tetrachloro-ethylene (PCE) and
trichloroethylene (TCE) will
produce ethylene 63.
First liquid effluent 53 of first
reactor 52 is transferred to
second reactor 54. In a second
methanogenic step, dechlorination
and methane 56 production
occur.
Reductive
PCE
dechlorination by methanogens to
produce ethylene 63 during
metabolism of a primary substrate
60, such as acetate or methanol,
has been documented. Therefore,
one such substrate 60 is added
to the reactor if one not present
in first liquid effluent 53 from the
sulfate-reduction step. The
specific microorganisms that
would be enriched in reactors
operated as indicated above
would depend on the salinity and
temperature of the reactor
content. If second reactor 54 is
operated at a relatively high pH
(above pH 8), over 95 percent of
the hydrogen sulfide gas is
ionized. At pH 7, about two

thirds is ionized. Ionized (soluble)

sulfides 61 concentrations over
200 milligrams per liter (as sulfur)
are toxic to methanogens.

PFC on the move

TIFAC Awarded Its First Patent
1. PFC has facilitated filing of

If
residual
organic
concentrations are excessive, a
final aerobic treatment step can
be incorporated into the process
by transferring second liquid
effluent 55 to third reactor 57.
Activated sludge and trickling
filter unit processes are examples
of appropriate aerobic process
steps for producing third liquid
effluent 58.

Claims:

70 patent applications, which

includes 20 applications filed
in other countries and one
PCT application.

A patent

has been recently granted by

Sri Lanka to TIFAC and
Ahmedabad Textiles and
Industrial

Research

Association (ATIRA) on the

invention related to synthetic
thickener for textile printing.
The invention deals with an

The patent has 34 claims,

covering various hazard removal
processes, like denitrification,
sulfate reduction, methanogenesis
and aerobic respiration, under
different conditions such as
presence of electron donors,
anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic
environment and at different
temperature ranges. Various
possible steps of such processes
are claimed individually and in
different combinations thereof.

alternative to the use of

kerosene in textile printing.
2. A patent awareness workshop
was

organised

at

REC,

Kurukshetra on October 9,
1999.

About 110 scientists

and technologists belonging

to various educational and
research institutions in the
region participated in the
proceedings of the workshop.

Please send us questions and topics you

would like to see in the coming issues
NEXT ISSUE

Case Law

Case Study

Patents for Opposition

16

Published by: Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC)

Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)
Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016.
Tel.: 6859581, 6863877, 6967458, 6567373 Fax: 6863866
e-mail: tifac@nda.vsnl.net.in website: www.tifac.org.in
Adviser: Y.S. Rajan, Executive Director, TIFAC
Editor: R. Saha, Director
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